The Coquette: A Literary Analysis

In a society full of issues, such as racial prejudices or women’s rights, writing becomes the only option to show all the elements that come with them. In the nineteenth century novel The Coquette by Hannah Webster Foster, there are hidden aspects of the genre Gothicism intertwined with that of sentimentalism. Sentimentalism is meant to evoke logical emotion amongst the readers while answering the question of what America’s values are. On the other hand, Gothicism evokes emotion that may be void of rationality, yet still answers the same question as that of sentimentalism. Both sentimentalism and Gothicism attack societal problems of a given time period, but use different frames of emotion and, or fear to do so. Gothic elements are commonly

In American Gothic: From Salem Witchcraft to H. P. Lovecraft, an anthology, it says, “... the Gothic has been especially congenial to women authors, who found in it ways to explore alternative visions of female life, power, and even revenge,” (Crow 2). Wharton’s character certainly defies regular female life in her “coquettish ways” by not getting married right away even though it is expected of her and every other female at the time. Foster was specifically influenced by Gothicism in this case as Wharton says, “But I despise those contracted ideas which confine virtue to a cell,” (Foster 13). Wharton refuses to confine to her society’s constructed values. To make this element be read as Gothic, Foster addresses it with Wharton’s rebellion by which of eerie undertones. Mrs. Richman, a conservative friend of Wharton, warns her of the risky path Wharton is heading towards with her recent behavior: “Though strowed with flowers, when contemplated by your lively imagination, it is after all, a slippery, thorn path. The round of fashionable dissipation is dangerous. A phantom is often pursued, which leaves its deluded votary the real form of wretchedness,” (13). This then enacts fear in Wharton and foreshadows an upcoming tragedy, which causes The Coquette to fall under Gothicism

(Foster 41)
Wharton never quite learns how to go about her emotions rationally. This ultimately leads to her downfall as she is too emotional. But that does not necessarily mean being one hundred percent rational is the answer either. One of her suitors, Sanford, has a downfall of his own after doing what is considered to be the right thing: he marries someone of his stature instead of listening to his heart and marrying Wharton. This means that there needs to be a balance between emotions and rationality, which both these character lack. This hints towards Gothic literature, which usually defeats rationality with emotions. Therefore, The Coquette highlights a confused state between good--the balance between emotions and rationality--and not good--the imbalance. The ladder is working to evoke fearful emotions since there is that lack of reasoning